071125 Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Housing market: Area Realtors

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Industry leaders say national reports decrying Cape Coral housing stats lack local context.

The Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association and Florida Gulf Coast Multiple Listing Service, Inc. responded last week to a Wall Street Journal article

Independence Day fest draws thousands

Despite expected downpours, the city of Cape Coral’s annual July 4th street party, Red, White & BOOM! offered all the traditional fun, including fireworks filling the sky.

— Pages 14, 22-23

entitled “The Worst Housing Market in America Is Now Florida’s Cape Coral,” saying ... “such a characterization lacks critical context and overlooks the broader dynamics shaping our regional real estate trends.”

“Over the past decade, Southwest Florida has experienced notable appreciation in home values. As of June 2025,

the median sale price in the region stood at $400,000, identical to the median price in December 2021. This reflects a normalization rather than a collapse, particularly when viewed through the lens of post-pandemic price surges driven by unprecedented demand and limited inventory,” the letter states.

“In Cape Coral, for example, the June

New wave pool makes a splash

By CASEY BRADLEY GENT news@breezenewspapers.com

There is an alternative in Cape Coral to hitting the waves and getting sand in your toes.

Sun Splash Family Waterpark at Lake Kennedy has opened a splashin’ 12,000-gallon wave pool called Paradise Cove Wave Pool.

No sand.

No salt.

Just plenty of sunshine, ocean-simulated wave action and a bountiful collection of orange innertubes to help wave riders of every age conquer

the current.

“The wave pool has seven different wave patterns and I haven’t learned them all yet,” Sun Splash Chief Marketing Officer Ron McKenzie said with a smile as the new amenity opened to

Melissa Gedeon Rose lifts her daughter, Arielle Rose, 4, over a wave in the Paradise Cove Wave Pool at Sun Splash on opening day Tuesday.

School District award

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Dave

2025 median sale price was $361,975, compared to $355,000 in October 2021. These figures underscore a relatively stable pricing trend over the past four years, contrary to headlines suggesting steep declines.”

The association compared numbers from October 2021 to June 2025:

District ranked 9th among state’s largest 10

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

School grades recently released from the Florida Department of Education show improvement among local schools but still left the School District of Lee County still ranking ninth among the largest 10 school districts in the state.

A B grade was maintained for the School District of Lee County for the 20242025 school year, which reflected continued progress and academic achievement across all schools. The grade was based on the third year of Florida’s new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) assessments aligned with Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards. Student performance and growth in English Language Arts and mathematics, as well as standalone achievement measure for third-grade ELA were key accountability components for the rating, officials said.

“We are just getting started,” Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said. “Our goal is to be the No. 1 district in the State of Florida. The team we have put in place and the changes ready to greet students and staff when they return to school on Aug. 11 will take us there. We will not

$2.9 million for safety initiatives

Tallahassee and

said

&

with

representatives to seek funding to better help protect kids and staff. Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, State Rep. Tiffany Esposito, and Sen. Jonathan Martin helped in pushing the appropriations through the State Legislature.

“We always try to look ahead and forecast to see what is needed and (see the) vulnerability at any of our school sites and be more proactive and based on what is happening nationwide,” Newlan said, adding that they look at trends, so they are always one step ahead. “It’s a balance. We want kids to feel safe, comfortable, and

See SAFETY, page 2

SWFL BBQ Showdown set for Saturday

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Like barbecue?

Fans of the fare have the opportunity to try sample portions from six different food trucks at the SWFL BBQ Showdown at Millennial Brewing Company this weekend.

Millennial Brewing Company Owner Kyle Cebull said this is the first time they are hosting the SWFL BBQ Showdown. He said they hold a lot of food festivals, but due to it being summertime — getting outside, having picnics and being from the Midwest — a barbecue competition sounded great.

“I am big into barbecue myself. We have done events centered around 4th of July. I love 4th of July, but events are never exciting as I want them to be (because we are) competing with a lot of stuff,” Cebull said, adding that a barbecue competition sounds like a lot of fun. “It’s something people can really get into.”

The competition will include six vendors, which he said he is excited to taste and see who is the best.

The free-entry, free-parking event will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at Millennial Brewing

Company, 1811 Royal Palm Ave, Fort Myers.

The top pitmasters will go head-to-head in three categories – best brisket, best ribs, and the crowd favorite.

The contestants were chosen from a cross section of ratings and reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp for the top mobilized barbecue places.

“Other places that have brick and mortar, it is hard to mobilize their product in a sustainable way, fresh and servable,” Cebull said. “The mobile food vendors are equipped for that. We chose the top six places and invited them to come, and they all accepted.”

The food trucks are traveling as far north as North Port and as far south as Naples for the event.

He said what is cool about this event is that attendees can purchase sample tickets for the barbecue .

“What is cool about it is that we require all the competitors to not only submit their tasting portions to the judges, but the competitors will sell tasting portions of their competitive entrees,” Cebull said. “In the past, in comparison with other food truck events, you have to buy a full portion, a full entree of food. That makes it tough for someone to come and try a lot of different options. You buy a whole meal, eat all of it, and you are full.”

He said they shifted to the format to tasting portions, so

attendees can try four, or five, or all six of the different competitive entrees, while having a good experience of trying different barbecue places.

“If you are really into barbecue this is huge. There are six totally different styles of barbecue and sauces all in one shot,” Cebull said.

In addition to the food, there will also be a “phenomenal country duo Weaver & Wilkins playing,” from 4 to 7 p.m.

There is a plethora of drink options for attendees – beer, hard ciders, cocktails and mocktails — 25 nonalcoholic options that are kid friendly.

“We have something for everybody,” he said.

The event is also kid and pet friendly.

“We love families. I have kids,” he said, adding that they wanted to create an atmosphere that parents could bring their kids to.

“It’s really nice to be able to provide that to the community – a place to let your kids run around. They don’t have to be locked down in a chair. They can wander around and enjoy the event,” Cebull said.

Millennial Brewing Company — a microbrewery —was established in 2016 in downtown Fort Myers by two millennials.

Safety: School District also pursuing accreditation

From page 1

welcome and allow them to concentrate on education and not have the anxiety, or concern we hear and read about nationwide with school violence.”

Although the measures taken are confidential to keep students and staff safe, the funding will be used for things such as increased fencing, new handheld radios for school staff and Rhinolocks — a secure locking mechanism, which allows doors to be quickly locked from the inside. Newlan said they want to take extra measures to keep students and staff safe, as well as letting parents know their child is in good hands.

The fencing is important as it creates a visual barrier; it depicts one should not go beyond the fence, Newlan said.

The handheld radios will increase communication amongst all schools — administration and security personnel — that is both clear and realiable. Newlan said it could be used on campus, or off, and during a hazardous natural catastrophe. He said safety and security is ongoing as there is always something to work on and improve.

“I am always looking for new ways to protect our kids. I take it very seriously — protecting our families and community,” Newlan said.

The district is constantly seeking grants and looking for funding to be fiscally responsible. He said they are looking for ways to help fund and pay for things, so it will not come out of the district’s general fund.

In addition to the funding, Newlan said the partnership they have with local law agencies helps keep students and staff safe.

“We have a great partnership with Cape Coral Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Myers Police Department and Sanibel Police Department. We are always communicating with them on an ongoing basis as a team to keep our schools safe. I am really thankful for the supportive teamwork we have with law enforcement agencies,” said, Newlan, Cape Coral’s former police chief. “The officers (school resource officers) that we see, they want to be there, like to be there, involved with the kids as mentors and role models. It’s a great thing.”

The school district is pursuing the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies accreditation for safety and security initiatives, which ensures that policies and practices meet the highest national standards. A new campus security accreditation has been added, which would make the district the first district in the state with the accreditation, the third in the country and the largest school district in the country.

OpiniOns

Cape COral Breeze

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher

VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor

CHRIS STRINE, Editor

2510 Del Prado Blvd. • Cape Coral, FL, 33904

• Phone 239-574-1110 – Fax 239-574-5693

Member Florida Press Association

Time to weigh in

If your property valuation did not dip in the last year, you’re likely looking at a tax increase in Cape Coral.

While the working budget does not propose an increase in the city’s property tax rate of 5.2188 mills or a bump to the 70% cost-recovery levy for fire services, the document for Fiscal Year 2026 contains a 4.7% increase in stormwater rates, a 5% increase in solid waste rates and factors in an 11% increase in water and sewer rates.

It also is shy some $66.5 million in unfunded requests from city departments, giving Cape Coral City Council three options if it opts to fund all or part of those requests — increase the property tax rate, increase the fire service assessment, or increase the 7% public service tax it levies on electric bills in addition to its 3% franchise fee.

We are not going to opine here on the unfunded staff requests. Nor are we going to weigh in on the costs, positions and projects in the $264,339,124. General Fund/ $1,495,767,829 all funds budget City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn has submitted to the Cape Coral City Council.

We will let the process continue to perk for while it may be pretty far along at this point, it is far from over: The city will hold a Town Hall meeting and three budget workshops and two required public hearings before the spending plan for 2026 is passed.

We expect Mr. Ilczyszyn and Council will look closely at the lower-than-expected property valuations numbers released by the Lee County Property Appraiser’s office and take into account Matt Caldwell’s look-ahead for next year. Meanwhile, the public — Cape Coral property owners, residents, business owners and pretty much anyone else who has any interest — has ample opportunity to weigh in.

We urge you to do so. It’s your money. And you have not a right, but the right, to have a say in how it’s spent.

The Town Hall meeting to discuss the proposed budget will be held Thursday, July 31, at 4 p.m., in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

“The Town Hall will offer a comprehensive overview of the proposed FY26 budget. City officials will outline key priorities, upcoming projects, and funding allocations. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input and ask questions,” city officials said.

The meeting will be broadcast live on CCTV and available on demand. E-comments may be submitted online.

The budget workshops are set for Aug. 5, 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. in City Council Chambers with hearings to follow. Make your voices heard.

—Breeze editorial

July 11, 2025

Make the most of summer

Creating memories, building readers, preparing for a great year ahead

Summer break is here — a time when families get to slow down, unplug from the daily school routine, and enjoy time together. For many, summer is a welcome opportunity to sleep in, head to the beach or pool, take family trips, and enjoy a more relaxed schedule. It’s a season of memories in the making — and a perfect time to stay connected to your child’s learning in fun and meaningful ways.

While summer should be filled with rest and play, it’s also an excellent opportunity to keep your child’s mind active, especially when it comes to reading. Studies show that even just 15–20 minutes of reading a day can help prevent the “summer slide” and keep students on track for the next school year. Best of all, it doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork!

Here are a few easy and enjoyable ways to make reading part of your summer routine:

Visit your local Library

Vanessa

Chiavano Guest Commentary

Make library trips a weekly adventure! Let your child choose books that match their interests — from mysteries and adventures to animals or graphic novels. The Lee County Libraries are offering a Summer Reading Program and book challenges that give kids fun goals and prizes for reading. Additionally, many venues provide story times, craft days, and even guest performances — all at no cost to the public. Learn more at https://www.leegov.com/library/ summer-reading-program.

Read Together

For younger children, especially, reading aloud together can be a special bonding time. Whether it’s a bedtime story

Cape Coral Town Hall meetings are a boon to residents

To the editor:

I have attended the Town Hall meetings provided by Councilmember Joe Kilraine, and most recently, Rachael Kaduk, and found them to be very informative and rewarding. Such meetings provide an excellent opportunity for city residents to ask questions of, and to express issues, concerns and recommendations to, the individual council member serving their district. The council members above did an outstanding job in responding to input provided by attendees, and they committed to follow up with City Council and other city officials, on several issues that were raised.

Town Hall meetings planned by individual council members are scheduled on the main page of the City’s web site at www.capecoral.gov, and are also reported in the Cape Coral Breeze newspaper.

Residents planning to attend a meeting can e-mail any issues, recommendations, etc. days before the meeting, to the Councilmember holding the meeting.

That gives the Councilmember time to research, and to respond to the input at the meeting. Councilmember e-mail addresses can be found on the web site above. Click on Government at the top of the page, then on City Council under City Government.

Bruce Smith Cape Coral

or a quiet afternoon read on the couch, your child benefits every time you open a book. Older kids may enjoy reading the same book as you and chatting about it together.

Enjoy the Unstructured Time

While it’s great to keep up reading habits, summer isn’t just about academics — it’s also about family, fun, and rest. Without the pressure of early alarms, homework, and after-school activities, families can slow down and enjoy the little things: a day at the beach, picnics in the park, evening walks, game nights, or spontaneous day trips.

This is the perfect season to reconnect with your children, try new things, and build lasting memories — without a packed calendar. These moments matter just as much as academics and help our students return to school feeling refreshed, confident, and ready to learn.

As we enjoy these summer days, we’re already looking forward to welcoming students back in August. A new school year means new opportunities, new friendships, and new goals to reach — and the best way to prepare is by keeping young minds curious and engaged.

So take a deep breath, soak in the sunshine, and make the most of every moment. With a bit of reading, a lot of love, and the freedom to explore, this summer can be one to remember.

Have a safe, joyful, and meaningful break!

—Vanessa Chiavano is the Lee County School Board Member for District 7, one of two at-large seats that represents residents countywide.

Vacation Rental Reform Advisory group

To the editor:

I disagree with Councilmemnber Nelson-Lastra that “we need them (vacation rentals) we don’t have enough hotels in our city.”

If we would have stopped giving out permits to car washes and storage units there would be plenty of land for more motels and hotels. Vacation rentals have no business in R-1 Residential only. They should be relegated to R-3 Multiple.

Second: There is a need for the $600 fee to properly run herd over the out-of-control system now employed. Owners are renting for less than a week. Or the opposite, packing 12 people for the weekly rental.

Owners just do not register.

Sanitation is lacking and not up to standards of a motel or hotel.

Owners are not keeping up the houses as an owner/ resident would. Unkempt yards and blight.

Signs are allowed to advertise vacation rentals. Totally wrong. Shall we put up flashing LED lights?

Cape Coral used to be a great place to live. Big money and developers have changed the landscape of this once as the founders of Cape Coral, the Rosen brothers said, “ the biggest gated community in Florida.”

Lou Navarra Cape Coral

See LETTERS, page 6

Agree? Disagree? Weigh in! Letters, guest opinions, comments welcome

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that — opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: capecoralbreeze.com.

Making it in the Shade: The Hardwood Hammock Ecosystem in Florida

Nestled between pine flatwoods, prairies and wetlands, Florida’s mesic hardwood or oak hammock ecosystems are unique upland forests. These ecosystems, often referred to as “hammocks,” form on upland rises typically 10-15 feet above sea level, providing a cool, shady and moist environment due to the wide canopies and dappled light underneath the oak trees. Hammocks are vitally important, offering habitat for a range of species, and the ecosystem plays a key role in water regulation and nutrient cycling as the water moves from upland areas to the coasts.

Oak hammocks, as the name suggests, are prevailed by broadleaf hardwood trees such as live oak (Quercus virginiana), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) and water oak (Quercus nigra). The hardwood hammock forests predominantly develop in areas with rich, well-drained soil, often along riverbanks, floodplains or old coastal dunes. The dense tree canopy forms a shady understory, and moisture persists throughout the year. This is the reason for oak hammocks’ lush atmosphere compared to drier, more fireprone environments like pine flatwoods.

Another characteristic of oak hammocks is their resistance to fire. Unlike pine forests that thrive with regular burns, oak hammocks are fire-intolerant due to their dense canopy and thick leaf litter. This lack of fire encourages the growth of a multilayered forest structure; canopy, understory, and ground cover, supporting a rich diversity of plant and animal life.

The plant diversity in oak hammocks is incredible. American holly (Ilex opaca),

southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) combine in the canopy with oaks. In the dappled understory saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa), along with numerous native ferns, mosses, and grasses thrive and form a complex patchwork of biodiversity and complexity.

David Outerbridge Guest Commentary

There are also numerous mycorrhizal relationships in the oak hammock with different fungal species. If you are lucky enough to be wandering through these forests a couple of days after a rain you can often discover numerous mushrooms from the mycelium in the soil that negotiate the complex relationships between plants and cycle nutrients from fallen branches and leaves.

In the canopies and boughs above epiphytes, such as Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) and resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides), drape from tree limbs, thriving in the humid, shady environment. Wildflowers like spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), and partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) bloom along the edges, adding bursts of color that attract pollinators.

Oak hammocks support a wide variety of wildlife. White-tailed deer, raccoons, bobcats, and gray foxes find food and shelter

within the dense vegetation. Reptiles such as the eastern box turtle and various snake species, including black racers and rat snakes, are commonly seen. Amphibians like green tree frogs and southern toads thrive in the moist ground layer.

Birds also find food, rest and home in the hammocks. Species such as barred owls, red-shouldered hawks, woodpeckers, and warblers nest in the pinnacles of the oaks. Migratory birds use oak hammocks as critical stopover habitats, feeding on the rich insect life and berries.

Gopher tortoises, a species more commonly associated with upland environments, burrow near hammock edges also. At times, oak hammocks border wetlands or rivers, and provide corridors between water sources as well as islands of respite from the fires in the pine flatwoods.

These careful, slow growing ecosystems that rely on a careful balance of ecological threads are at risk due to shifting forces. The most significant threat is habitat loss due to development.

As higher ground is more desirable and Florida’s population continues to expand, these refuges are cleared for housing and infrastructure. This fragments the ecosystem and isolates populations.

Invasive species pose another major threat. Non-native plants such as air potato

(Dioscorea bulbifera) and Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) can outcompete native vegetation and alter the structure of the forest canopy. Some areas are so well colonized with invasive species that a monoculture is created.

There are also invasive animals that have significant impacts. Invasive feral hogs damage the forest floor by turning the soil by rooting, and wallowing. This destroys sensitive native plant communities that rely on balanced soil structure. These exposed areas also become more susceptible to erosion. These areas are often colonized by invasive plants such as Cesar weed (Urena lobata) which has been transported by hitching a lift in the fur of the wild hogs.

Climate change adds further stress. Shifts in rainfall patterns and increased temperatures can impact the range of oak hammocks or increase their susceptibility to pests and disease. Additionally, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion threaten coastal hammocks, particularly those growing on dune ridges near shorelines.

The oak hammock is a verdant, lush oasis of shade and biodiversity that is filled with life. Their ecological value, aesthetic beauty, and cultural importance necessitate preservation. Through conservation efforts, responsible land-use planning, and invasive species control, we can protect these treasures for the enjoyment of many.

David Outerbridge is director of UF/ IFAS Extension Lee County. Contact him at douterbridge@ufl.edu.

Rebuilding the job market will correct SWFL’s housing market

The Wall Street Journal published a front-page story on July 2 noting one Florida city has the “worst housing market in U.S.”

That city was Cape Coral.

Although the story calls out the Cape, the numbers are indicative of Southwest Florida as a whole. Our housing market indeed is struggling. Home prices for the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area have fallen 11% over the past two years, the largest of any metro in America. The story calls out an abundance of “For Sale” signs dotting the landscape, open houses with nary a prospective buyer in sight and listing prices that continue to drop.

The lackluster housing market isn’t a problem in and of itself. The housing market is tied directly to our economy, and specifically our job market.

As Southwest Floridians know, our region’s job market took a substantial blow when Hurricane Ian devastated the region in 2022. Subsequent storms – particularly Helene and Milton in 2024 – caused further setbacks. In a tourism-friendly, eco-driven economy like ours, Mother Nature can be our

biggest ally... she can also pose our biggest challenge.

Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva are facing a long road to recovery. The SanCap Chamber, for instance, has celebrated 119 ribbon-cutting ceremonies since Hurricane Ian. Many are small, locally owned businesses. Although every job created or restored helps the economy, the region’s major employers are the ones who truly drive this economy. When Lee County’s top five employers –

They own homes there, shop there, dine there and have fun there.

Currently, South Seas employs 197 as its redevelopment process commences in phases. The resort celebrated its grand reopening in May that highlighted new and enhanced dining options, renovated pools, water sports, beach services, fitness amenities, The Clutch Golf Course, Bayview Pier, the Shops at South Seas and more.

crease over the 2022 number.

The economic impacts would be profound. Post redevelopment, South Seas would generate an estimated property tax base of $697.4 million, resulting in annual property tax revenues for Lee County taxing jurisdictions amounting to $9.8 million and tourist tax revenue of $7.2 million.

Lee Health, The School District of Lee County, Lee County Government, Publix and Chico’s – are growing, the region thrives.

Before Hurricane Ian, South Seas on Captiva was a top-20 employer in Lee County, supporting 400 permanent, direct onsite jobs. Most of its employees live off island, predominantly in Fort Myers and Cape Coral – the area specifically cited by the Wall Street Journal.

Redfish Pointe

From page 4

To the editor:

Recently, Joe Mazurkiewicz, former mayor of Cape Coral from 1983 to 1993 and now a private consultant, wrote a piece supporting the construction of Redfish Pointe.

In his pitch the author promoted that building this project, which will devastate Rotary Park (a beloved 97-acre city resource), route commercial traffic through established neighborhoods, and decimate the Cape’s largest stand of coastal mangroves is somehow a responsible act that will benefit all of us.

At this time, the three parcels comprising Redfish Point are zoned for Conservation. The property’s owners have requested that the city re-zone all 350 undeveloped acres from Conservation to Mixed Development. Mr. Mazurkiewicz, who represents the owners, wants us to believe that Redfish Pointe is a wonderful thing and grossly downplays the damage this development will do.

According to Cape Coral’s own Planning and Zoning Department, the majority of the of the impacted land is in the coastal high hazard area which has special limitations on development due to the probability of storm losses and increased evacuation times.

Mr. Mazurkiewicz makes the unsupported claim that Redfish Pointe’s economic impact will exceed $1 billion yet omits any mention of the area’s vital role as a storm buffer and mis-characterizes the function of this critical wildlife habitat.

Further, he implies that the public should take the owners at their word that traffic, flood safety and environmental issues have all been adequately addressed. According to Mr. Mazurkiewicz, not only should we blindly accept the owners’ assertions as accurate and true, we should feel sorry for them.

He claims they are “owed’ a rezoning because when

South Seas’ redevelopment plans are still under review by Lee County. If fully approved, the resort’s redevelopment would include new multi-family units, hotel rooms and recreational amenities. Most importantly, the full redevelopment would lead to 813 permanent, direct onsite resort jobs by 2029 – more than doubling the pre-Ian workforce. Including indirect and induced jobs related to South Seas would result in 1,918 total jobs, a 132% in-

Letters to the editor

the city changed the land use designation back in 1989, they were never informed. How interesting that the owners endured a 36-year tax benefit without complaint and are only now protesting the unfairness of it all.

The current shoreline configuration, including Rotary Park, provides the Cape’s citizens, human and otherwise, the benefit of almost 450 contiguous acres of critical mangrove habitat.

Hollowing out this protective barrier to build condos on a tiny scrap of wooded upland, draining and backfilling significant portions of wetland to provide sufficient elevation for roads etc. will destroy what is now a functional ecosystem. Fanciful descriptions of future boardwalks and wildlife viewing pavilions are shameless pandering and should viewed as the cynical sales verbiage that they are.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Redfish Pointe is a fantasy, a projection.

If the zoning is changed the owners are free to alter the design or to sell any (or all) of the 350 acres as they please.

The city should definitely not submit to the desires of these few, well-resourced and influential individuals.

The bottom line is if you purchased swampland with marginal development potential and you are unhappy with the result, don’t try to salvage your investment by foisting your nightmare money-making scheme on your fellow taxpayers.

In conclusion, it’s worth noting that we enjoy the results of our previous leadership’s clear-eyed, visionary planning and effective stewardship every single day. We rejoice in finding ourselves shorn of our natural environment, facing breathtaking declines in water quality, tapping out our aquifers, and living in perpetual gridlock.

Enough already! We don’t need any more advice from you, Joe.

Lane Jones Cape Coral

South Seas estimates its out-ofpocket redevelopment costs at $973.5 million. That’s not just an investment into the resort property... that’s an investment into Southwest Florida’s economy. Our region’s recovery from Ian isn’t just about rebuilding homes and businesses damaged by the storm; it’s about rebuilding a healthy economy and creating a robust workforce. Hopefully the next headline in the Wall Street Journal will introduce America to the community that bounced back, and then some, from one of the country’s worst natural disasters.

—Greg Spencer is president of the South Seas Ownership Group.

Kennedy’s autism study an invasion of privacy

To the editor:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is amassing private records of Americans with autism for a new autism study and a national autism registry is in the planning stages, On April 21, Dr Bhattacharya the director of National Institute of Health announced the NIH will provide Kennedy with data pulled from federal and commercial databases.

As a healthcare professional I was extremely rigid with HIPAA Regulations.

HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act allows the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) under specific circumstances while also protecting individual medical records and other identifiable health information.

Privacy rule: The HIPAA Privacy rule protects health information, held or transmitted by covered entities and their business associates. Disclosures such as treatment, payment and healthcare operations are permitted.

Individual rights: Individuals have the right to correct their medical records, to see and obtain their medical records and get a copy of their records, and control who can access the PHI.

Information with other health care providers for treatment purposes is permitted, and disclosing information to health plans is permitted for payment authorization. Family members or friends can receive information with an individual’s permission. (If a person is incapacitated a disclosure is deemed in their best interest)

Marketing and research purposes, when certain conditions are met.

I disagree with this program. What are the program intentions for use????

Kathleen

Callard RNBS North Fort Myers

Greg Spencer Guest Commentary

Fundraiser brings in $20,000 for Family Initiative

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The annual City Tavern Fourth of July Block Party and Chili Dog Eating Contest raised more than $20,000 for Family Initiative, which will help roll out a new early intervention program this fall for the nonprofit organization.

“This year, we raised money for Family Initiative, a local nonprofit near and dear to our hearts that helps hundreds of families in our autism community. We are proud to be able to give back to a community that has given us so much,” City Tavern owner Kevin Offerman said.

Family Initiative Co-founder and President David Brown said the donation was unbelievable and left the whole team pretty surprised and blown away by the contribution. He said the Offermans are an awesome family in the community.

“The whole event, the atmosphere was incredibly fun,” Brown said. There were “a lot of folks that came out and supported City Tavern and Family Initiative that recognize the impact of the ever-increasing prevalence of autism and the need of help for families.”

Hundreds of individuals attended the free downtown event, which featured live entertainment by DJ Juan Gomez and DJ Mickey McFly, games, food prepared by celebrity chef Brian Duffy and a chili dog eating contest. Sponsorships, donations, and chili dog contestant pledges contributed to the fundraising total.

Brown said the contestants had to eat as many chili cheese dogs as they could in 15 minutes.

The annual City Tavern Fourth of July Block Party and Chili Dog Eating Contest raised more than $20,000 for Family Initiative. The money will be used for a new early intervention program to identify and diagnose children on the autism spectrum at a younger age.

“To watch that was pretty crazy. All the folks that were in the contest ate their hearts out,” he said, adding that the winner ate 11-1/2 chili cheese dogs. “It was a really cool tradition that Kevin started.”

The Family Initiative team was also in attendance, as they brought their mobile sensory 20-foot trailer. Brown said to ensure their families can participate in events,

they bring the trailer to events happening across the region.

“The trailer acts as a mobile sensory room. It is the coolest thing you have ever seen. It was awesome to have the trailer downtown,” he said.

The money raised from the event will go towards a new early intervention program that is anticipated to roll out in the

fall. Brown said it is important to identify and diagnose children on the spectrum at a younger age because early intervention is everything. With early diagnosis, services can be offered sooner.

“These dollars are super important to us. It is unbelievable the technology and research that exists,” Brown said. “That is going to be a lot of focus this year — early intervention to provide more of that support for young children.”

He said the demand for everything they do is unbelievable, as well as the pace of parents calling every day.

“Our team is honored to work super hard day and night to build innovative and supportive programs,” Brown said. “I am grateful for all the support we have from all corners of the community. We need it because families need the help. We will keep chasing after what they need and build it.”

Family Initiative, which was founded in 2015, is a nonprofit organization that supports children with autism, as well as strengthening their families. The organization has a team of clinicians that serve children through a compassionate, personalized approach using both Applied Behavior Analysis and Occupational Therapy. Autism playgrounds, teen meetups, parent education, community conversations, and training and support for child welfare caregivers through its Family Impact Program are also offered.

For more information, visit www. fi-florida.org, follow Family Initiative on Facebook and Instagram at @ FamilyInitiative, or on X (formerly Twitter) at @FI_Inc.

LCEC DELIVERS MORE THAN POWER

In collaboration with the National Theatre for Children and the LCEC Zap Free Zone high-voltage demonstration, we help educate local students about electricity and the importance of electrical safety. This is one example of why…

Membership Matters

Wave pool: Sun Splash Waterpark’s latest water feature draws smiles

From page 1

the public on Tuesday.

The current schedule for waveriders includes 15 minutes of wave action followed by seven minutes of calm.

“Not every guest is a strong swimmer. We want to offer something for all different abilities,” he said.

Marco Brummond and his wife Kristina own Ryco Marine, a sales, service and boat brokerage business in Fort Myers, which sponsored Sun Splash’s newest attraction.

Brummond said his three kids loved their first experience in the Paradise Cove Wave Pool.

“I was tossing our 7-year-old up over the waves. We all loved it,” he said.

Wren Opteynet smiled as she dove between waves.

“It’s not scary at all,” she said, bobbing alongside of her dad, John Paul. The pair treaded water as waves of varying sizes splashed.

John Paul said Sun Splash adding a wave pool attraction makes the water park even more appealing.

McKenzie said there is more in store for Paradise Cove Wave Pool — 16x9-foot Jumbo Tron High-Definition Video Screen, with sound, will be installed before the end of August.

“People will literally be able to ride the waves and watch a movie or a video,” he said.

McKenzie is considering showing NFL Football games on the Jumbo Tron this fall.

While the current water temperature feels energizing, McKenzie said the water isn’t heated.

November water may be a bit chilly, but watching football from an innertube sounds like a bucket-list item.

The water park — the largest in Southwest Florida also offers a Lazy River, multiple tubes and slides, a children’s area as well as lux cabanas.

Through July and August, the park is open daily and will be open a minimum of two days a week through November.

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is at 500 W. Lake Kennedy Drive.

Three-year-old waverider Wren Opteynet lifts her face in a smile above the water in the Paradise Cove Wave Pool at Sun Spash Family Waterpark Tuesday. The new pool at the park features 12,000 gallons of crystal clear water and varying wave action.

Visit: www.sunsplashwaterpark.com for daily park hours and admission prices and policies which include a provision that youths younger than 16 must be chaperoned by an adult 21 or older.

CASEY BRADLEY GENT

CASEY BRADLEY GENT

A water sprinkler feature highlights the edge of Paradise Cove Wave Pool at Sun Splash where waveriders of all ages await the next wave at the new amenity. The current schedule for waveriders includes 15 minutes of wave action followed by seven minutes of calm.

State imposes more training for teen drivers

Younger motorists at greater risk of being involved in a fatal crash

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

An extension has been given for teen drivers until Aug. 1 to complete the online Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education Course and be exempt from the state’s sixhour Driver Education requirement.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles extended the deadline from July 1, for all new teen drivers aged 15-17 to receive a Florida learner’s permit. The courses include a six-hour driver education course, a four-hour traffic law substance abuse education course, and real ID documents, proof of address and parental consent.

Under new state requirements, Teens must be 14 complete the TLSAE exam. If a teen already has a learner’s permit, or received one before July 1, they are also exempt, as are teens moving to Florida with a valid out-of-state permit or license.

“We think this is a great initiative that will allow more than just a hands-on approach to driving. Teen driver safety is so important and formalized driver training be a huge part in saving lives,” Cape Coral Police Department Public Affairs Officer Mercedes Simonds said.

A recent study shows that Florida is ranks sixth for the highest fatal crash rate among young drivers in the United States.

The study, which was conducted by The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, shows that there were 403 fatal crashes from 2019-2023 for young drivers aged 15 to

“We think this is a great initiative that will allow more than just a hands-on approach to driving. Teen driver safety is so important and formalized driver training be a huge part in saving lives.”

— Mercedes Simonds, Cape Coral Police Department Public Affairs officer

20 years old. Florida has the ranking due to 59 fatal crashes per 100,000 young, licensed drivers. This is 48% above the national average of 40. The state’s five-year average was computed with approximately 679,238 licensed drivers 15 to 20.

There are things teen drivers should do while getting behind the wheel.

“Teen drivers should always buckle up, follow the speed limit, and stay focused by avoiding phones and other distractions,” Simonds said. “It’s important to keep a safe distance from other vehicles, use turn signals clearly, drive sober and alert, and know your route ahead of time. Practicing defensive driving and staying aware of your surroundings can help prevent accidents.”

Teens should never text or scroll on their phones while driving, blast music or wear earbuds, or overload the car with too many passengers, she added.

“They should avoid running yellow lights, driving while upset, tailgating, or becoming overconfident behind the wheel. Staying calm, cautious, and responsible

can help keep everyone safe on the road,” Simonds said.

Kentucky was ranked first in terms of fatalities, followed by New Mexico, Mississippi, Arkansas and Montana.

The city has provided teen driving courses in the past and plans to do so in the future, funding permitting.

The Cape Coral Police Department began offering Teen Driver Challenge courses in February 2025 after securing a grant and related equipment from the Florida Department of Transportation in an effort to keep young drivers safe on the road.

Sgt. Joseph Zalenski of CCPD’s Community Services Bureau, who has been the coordinator of the program, said 112 students have gone through the program.

“However, many more signed up who could not, or did not attend for one reason or another. Students signed up well in advance and some were unable to attend day of due to personal reasons,” he said.

The three-hour class was taught by

school resource officers.

“Our primary instructors have a former background in traffic enforcement/ investigations and major crimes investigations. All are currently assigned to our Community Services Bureau,” Zalenski said.

Safe driving, distracted driving, and proper etiquette, if pulled over, is taught during the class. He said they use a combination of classroom learning and hands-on learning through the driving simulation to teach safe driving techniques and proper etiquette when pulled over, and to show the dangers of distracted driving.

“Our goal is to engage with young drivers to prevent crashes, and to provide them with the tools they need to avoid distracted and impaired driving,” Zalenski said. “We also provide a safe, hands-on learning environment for teens to learn how to handle minor traffic crash and traffic stops.”

The Cape Coral Police Department currently does not have any additional sessions scheduled, as they have used all of the fiscal year 2024-2025 grant from FDOT.

“If our grant application for FY25-26 is approved, we hope to resume sessions sometime in October,” he said.

Students and parents who are interested can email TeenDriverChallenge@capecoral.gov.

“We plan to reach out to interested parties once sessions get scheduled,” Zalenski said.

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Weekly B reeze Recap

Thousands turn out for Red, White & BOOM!

By CASEY BRADLEY GENT news@breezenewspapers.com

Two days before Independence Day, Cape Coral was inundated with heavy thunderstorms.

On the Fourth, though, the area at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge dawned to sunshine and ended in a thunderous rain of fireworks as the city of Cape Coral’s largest event, Red, White & BOOM! drew thousands to the South Cape.

Billed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department as Southwest Florida’s largest single-day event, attendees and vendors alike began arriving by 4 p.m., wearing red, white and blue outfits, sparkling hats, patriotic paint and even the American flag.

Alissa Kelleman and her family were among them.

“There are always lots of families and lots of kids, “ said Kelleman of her family’s second BOOM! “This will be a yearly tradition for us.”

Kelleman was accompanied by her husband, daughters and in-laws.

Like hundreds of other families, the Kellemans came equipped with chairs and a cooler to enjoy live music – kicked off by DJ RIFIK — as they waited for dark. Kelleman said she knew the fireworks display would be worth the wait.

And worth it they were, according to other attendees.

“I hadn’t attended Fourth of July events in Cape Coral for a quite a while,” said Jill Jacobs, one of the volunteers manning the beer tent. “But I have to say, the event was well run and very well organized. No one was running around like a chicken with their head cut-off.”

Jacobs, a volunteer for PRIDE Cape Coral, donated five hours of volunteer time on behalf of the organization.

She said she will definitely volunteer again next summer.

Red, White & BOOM!’s bright fireworks illuminated the night sky beginning right at 9:30 p.m. with accompanying music provided from the stage and by Cat Country 107.1.

“When the fireworks started, they were just right there. Right in front of me. The show was magnificent,” Jacobs said.

The sound of canons reverberated across the landmark bridge, sprinkling color over the dark skies.

Thousands gathered on each side of the empty bridge for a stunning show with the ticked VIP tent catered by Mission BBQ and Budweiser offering not only food but seating near water’s edge called “The Boom Zone.”

Despite the rainy lead-in, the city was happy the event went off as scheduled.

“We were extremely grateful that the weather cooperated for this year’s Red, White & BOOM!,” said city spokesperson Melissa Mickey Monday morning. “Our Special Events team closely monitors the forecast leading up to the event, but there’s nothing like seeing the community come together under clear skies. It made for a safe and memorable night for everyone.”

Fireworks light up the night sky and the Caloosahatchee during the city’s Red, White & BOOM! celebration on July 4.

CASEY BRADLEY GENT

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina opening ‘spectacular’

By MEGHAN BRADBURY & CASEY BRADLEY GENT news@breezenewspapers.com

The opening weekend of Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina went better than the owners had anticipated, complete with an incredible buzz of those that patronized the park.

“It went spectacular,” Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina co-owner Gary Aubuchon said. “The opening evening –4th of July – could not have gone better. We were very fortunate the weather cooperated with us, too. The buzz within Slipaway was palpable. People were very excited to have a waterfront destination of this caliber in Southwest Florida. Everyone I talked to over the weekend was genuinely excited that this destination was theirs to go to anytime.”

The facility has 10 food truck spots, a marina with 26 boat slips, as well as space for four gas docks, slip store, six pavilions and a main pavilion with a bar, and seating on the water and by the store.

“We began talking about this project almost three years ago. It’s great to see the central pavilion today. It looks like they’re calling that area The Helm. We designed the space to be something very casual with a lot of clean lines. I think it’s a great space for family and friends to gather,” Amber Vitale, interior designer for the Wegman Design Group, said.

Aubuchon said they have 75 employees – servers, bartenders, dock hands and individuals working at the slip store.

“I was there for lunch yesterday with my wife, and the place at noon was almost completely full. By 1 p.m. it was. When we left there was a line of cars waiting to be parked by the valet and all the boat slips were full,” he said Monday morning.

Aubuchon said what he was really excited to see for lunch Sunday were the

various ways in which people engaged with the trucks.

Every table has a QR code that gives patrons an opportunity to order from any of the 10 trucks and have their food brought to them. Individuals can also go up to the trucks and order what they would like.

“It was great to see people doing both things – walking from truck to truck and placing their orders and others sitting at their table in the main bar pavilion, or six individual pavilions and the servers bringing food out,” he said. “One of the servers shared that he got 32,000 steps on Saturday. Slipaway has its very own wellness plan.”

General Manager John Torres reviewed more than 140 food truck applicants and chose the best 10, based on the quality of food, level of friendliness, services and cleanliness.

“Every food truck has a unique cuisine. We have 10 different restaurants in one location,” Aubuchon said.

Not Yo Mama’s Tacos food truck owner Vanessa Franco said they’re not traditional, with such food names as “My Corn Addiction” and “McDaddy Big Mac Tacos.” She said they also use local vendors, which makes them different.

“I always wanted to do a food truck. When Ian happened, we drove around and gave free food in Naples, Marco Island and here – to workers, residents and firefighters. By 2022, we were able to start actually earning an income from the food truck. I am really excited about Slipaway.”

GreekSpot is another food truck destination.

“We are ready for this Food Truck Park. Our brick-and-mortar restaurant over at Big John’s Plaza has a long history of family recipes and we will keep that going here.

People gather for the opening of the Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina in South Cape on Independence Day. The park, located at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge, is now open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. with available parking on-site.

CASEY BRADLEY GENT

Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina opens with a BOOM!

Right: A sampling of the food offered by Not Yo’ Mama’s Tacos at a ticketed soft-opening of Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina on July 4th. Far right: Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina guests enjoy the setting in South Cape during the Red, White & BOOM! companion celebration at the new riverfront venue on Cape Coral Parkway.

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter and wife Teresa (seated center) arrive at Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina on Independence Day. Among the smiling crew testing the waters at the new riverfront venue at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge is Councilmember Bill Steinke, second from right.

A bartender at The Helm smiles as she serves up a cold one during the Red, White & BOOM! companion celebration at Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina on July 4.

PHOTOS BY CASEY BRADLEY GENT

CommuniTy

A Tillandsia streptophylla air plant with its pink-colored bract

Air plants

By SHERIE BLEILER news@breezenewspapers.com

Plants that grow in the air? The plant world contains some curious members: air plants or Tillandsias. You have probably seen these plants growing on the rough bark of oak trees, from small fluffy ball moss (Tillandsia recurvata), to the giant wild pine (Tillandsia utriculata). In fact, the Spanish moss that gracefully drapes from trees throughout the south is Tillandsia usneoides. It is not actually moss but an air plant!

Garden Club of Cape Coral

Tillandsias are epiphytes, which means they live on other plants but do not take anything from them. They are not parasites but just hang on with their roots. Nutrients are gathered by holding rain water and any debris in the center of their leaves. Their thin, stiff leaves are also covered with scales which absorb humidity, dew and rain. They are perfectly adapted to our climate by being very drought tolerant in the dry season and enjoying a daily rain in the summer.

These and our other iconic native air plants are threatened by human collection and development. It is illegal to collect giant wild pine and several others in the wild. After a rainstorm, I sometimes pick them up off the sidewalk by the oak trees. But wild air plants can also contain the deadly Mexican bromeliad weevil. So purchasing them from nurseries and growers is the best way of obtaining them. You will find a wide variety of forms in the Americas, from the originating from the Caribbean to as far south as Argentina.

Pictured is my Tillandsia streptophylla, from Mexico and Central America. It is gray-green due to its heavy scales and the leaves tend to curl into ringlets. A small flower or two peek out daily while the bracts have a pink blush, which will last for months.

Air plants are so easy to grow, which is another reason for their popularity. You can grow them on a variety of surfaces, such as tree bark, cork, shells or bare rocks. Attach them by wrapping with a fishing line or sticking them on a dab of hot glue that has cooled a bit. Locate them in an area with bright light but not direct sunlight. Allow for good air circulation. If outside, your plant may like to be watered or misted to the point of runoff weekly during the dry season. Let it dry out in between. In the rainy season, do nothing. If inside, water weekly year round. If the leaves curl or roll up, this is a sign they are dehydrated. Too much water will cause them to rot. I do not use fertilizer, but if you want, make sure to dilute it to one-quarter strength to avoid burning the leaves.

With good growing conditions, your bromeliad will bloom. The center will stretch out. Often the bracts surrounding the bloom are more colorful than the bloom itself. The individual flowers often last only a day, but

See AIR PLANTS, page 33

The Breeze

July 11, 2025

Author of children’s mermaid-themed book

to visit Flutterbuy Books and More Saturday

Flutterbuy Books and More invited local families to a fin-tastic afternoon of storytelling and imagination at an author signing with local author Katherine Callard this Saturday, July 12, at 1 p.m.

Callard will be signing her enchanting new children’s book, “The Mermaid Sisters’ School of Ocean ABCs,” a beautifully illustrated rhyming adventure that helps children learn the alphabet through an underwater lens. Young readers will meet three magical mermaid sisters — Zada, Anya, and Leia — as they explore ocean life from A for Anchor to Z for Zebra Lionfish.

“It’s the perfect storytime event for curious minds and ocean lovers,” said Siva McAteer, marketing manager for Flutterbuy Books and More. “We’re proud to host Katherine and share her wonderful book with the community.”

The event is free and family-friendly, and children will have the opportunity to meet the author, have their books signed and enjoy the cozy, welcoming environment of Flutterbuy Books and More.

Flutterbuy Books and More is at 840 S.W. 4th St., Unit 7, Cape Coral.

Callard is a children’s author and storyteller who loves combining imagination with education. Her latest book introduces early literacy through marine life — blending learning with magic for little readers.

For more information, please contact Flutterbuy Books and More at admin@flutterbuybooksandmore.com or 239-789-6619.

Community Calendar

Friends of Cape Library to discuss ‘Books We’ve Read’ July 26

Everyone is invited to the Friends of the Cape Coral Library General Meeting Saturday, July 26. The topic of discussion will be “Books We’ve Read.”

The morning will begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee, tea, light snacks and social time. The business portion will start at 10 a.m., and the program.

The Friends’ traditional July meeting program has been one of its most popular. Attendees sit in a big round table set up and take turns talking about books they’ve recently read and would recommend.

Each person may describe a couple of books, or more if there’s time.

FOCCL General Meetings, which take place in the large meeting room of the Cape Coral Library at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, are free and open to the public. You are welcome to bring a guest or two.

For more information, please visit Friends of the Cape Coral Library website at www.capefriends.org and follow them on Facebook.

Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre to present ‘BackStage Broads’

“BackStage Broads” the latest comedy by Joe Simonelli and Lori Sigrist, who just had their comedy “Half Baked” end a successful run at The Broadway Palm last month, will premiere at The Cape Cafe Dessert Theatre in Cape Coral Thursday, July 17. The play will run every Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. with 2 p.m .matinees until mid September.

The play involves a senior woman who inherits a small community theater from her uncle and tries her best to revive it after it has been sitting empty for 20years! She recruits her best friend Myrtle and her two neighbors to help as they try to mount their premiere production of ‘Pygmulian,” a riff on the original Shaw play now set in an old west frontier town. But all is not how it seems and hilarity ensues when three “actors?” also join the cast!

Tickets can be purchased online at capecafetheatre.com. or call 239-363-0848 for more information.

Saint Hilary’s Episcopal Church to present ‘Trouble in Deadwood’ murder mystery dinner

Saint Hilary’s Episcopal Church in Fort Myers is host-

ing murder mystery meals Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m., and Saturday, July 26, at 2 p.m, in the church’s Bowning Hall at 5011 McGregor Blvd., in Fort Myers.

The Wild West murder mystery comedy, “Trouble in Deadwood” performed by Sleuths Mystery Entertainment, tells the tale of a town called Deadwood in 1876. Boss Butler wants to control the town but when he makes his move to seize it from the Widow Dawson, the town pushes back. Guests can try to solve the murder mystery — was it Sawbones the Snake Oil Salesman, the wild woman of a tracker “Catastrophe” Jones, the outlaw gunslinger Black Bart or “Hawkeye Hayes” Dawson herself?

Tickets are $30 per person and includes dinner, dessert and beverages.

Hosted by the Episcopal Church Women and the Men’s Action Guild, proceeds will benefit their ministries and outreach.

Applications sought for AES Day of Giving

The AES Restaurant Foundation has announced its Day of Giving is coming to the Fort Myers area. The Day of Giving was created to give back to the communities in which AES Restaurant Group employees work and live, and this year, they would like to award up to $100,000 to non-profit organizations throughout the Fort Myers area.

Throughout the year, customers across the AES footprint can round up or donate funds to non-profit organizations. Locally, AES Restaurant Group owns and operates 37 Arby’s locations throughout Florida, with 10 local restaurants. Because of the generosity of their customers, the AES Foundation will award gifts to as many as 10 charities totaling $100,000 on the Day of Giving.

The Day of Giving will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Arby’s location at 47 Hancock Bridge Parkway in Cape Coral. AES Restaurant representatives and local Arby’s team members will award multiple local non-profit organizations with donations for a total of $100,000! The winning charities will be chosen based on their applications, impact on the community, alignment with the Arby’s values, and fiscal responsibility.

To be considered for this award, organizations should visit the AES Restaurant Foundation website at www. aesfoundation.com and click the DAY OF GIVING tab. Applications must be received by Tuesday, July 15, for consideration. Organizations will receive the award during the Day of Giving Event Aug. 7.

SHERIE BLEILER

PHOTO PROVIDED Local author Katherine Callard with her book, “The Mermaid Sisters’ School of Ocean ABCs.”

Grades: Student achievement prioritized

From page 1

rest until we are No. 1.”

With the district anticipating these results it has implemented several changes for the upcoming school year to prioritize the improvement of academic achievement. Those include:

n a 5% budget cut in the central office to increase school support.

n An administrative reorganization to reduce bureaucracy.

n Incentives for teachers to teach the most critical subjects in the schools most at risk for lower achievement.

n Increased the School Development Team to focus on schools in need.

n Project Believe to hire a high-quality, dedicated teacher for every classroom.

n The Safe Start Initiative – change school start times to reduce students missing school due to late buses. In addition, a 30-minute addition of instruction time at the high school level.

n Requiring cell phones to be turned off and put in backpacks during the upcoming school year.

Fourteen schools received an A grade and 27 earned a B, which represents more than half of the district’s traditional public schools.

Some schools saw good gains, including Pine Island Elementary School that went from a C to an A. Four schools went from a B to an A, including Gulf Elementary School, North Fort Myers High School, Tanglewood Elementary School and Three Oaks Middle School.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to have all the hard work pay off,” Gulf Elementary Principal Jessica Duncan said. “Under the leadership of Principal Kim Verblaauw and her team, our students were willing to put in consistent effort and continually challenge themselves to reach higher academic achievements. Our Gulf Elementary staff worked together to foster a culture where students were inspired to become active learners who believe in their potential to succeed. We also have incredibly supportive families, which is a crucial factor in student success and the resulting school grade.”

She said they had significant learning gains in reading, which is partially attributed to how they implemented their Walk to Read intervention and enrichment time during the school day.

“We also ensured that students possessed the necessary foundational skills and provided additional learning opportunities through our extended day tutoring program,” Duncan said.

As the newly appointed principal, she said she will support staff in meeting the academic needs of all students by maintaining strong interventions using their established program.

“We will monitor and review our school

data throughout the year to make instructional decisions and make any necessary adjustments. We will also identify which grade levels and subject areas would benefit most from our extended day tutoring program, which is set to begin in September,” Duncan said.

North Fort Myers High School Principal Debbie Diggs said her staff is beyond thrilled to have received an A grade.

“It’s always great to receive positive recognition and is even more meaningful when a goal is realized that our staff had consistently worked toward all year,” she said. “The bigger picture, though, is what the numbers and the grade represent for our students. These numbers represent proficiency and growth in English and math, proficiency in biology and U.S. history, college and career acceleration and graduation rates. As our students gain and excel in these areas, their opportunities for future advancement grows exponentially.”

In addition, Diggs said as the only high school within the School District of Lee County to earn an A, she is especially proud of the work her students and staff did to land highest in the areas of both English and math proficiency, as well as graduation rate.

“Another strong area for North this year was overall English and math gains for all students, as well as U.S. history proficiency. One of the biggest challenges we face is chronic absenteeism, especially among students who struggle the most academically. It’s difficult for learning to take place when they aren’t in school consistently. While this is a small percentage of our kids, every kid is important and we will continue to work toward helping every kid be successful,” Diggs said.

The 2024-2025 school grade report also showed improvement in their four former D schools, which removed them from the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of School Improvement. Those four schools that went from a D to a C include Amanecer Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, and Lemuel Teal Middle School.

Tortuga Preserve Elementary School dropped to a D grade and will be placed under state supervision next year.

No schools in the district received an F.

“I am thankful to all the teachers, staff, and administrators for their hard work and dedication to our students, it is truly appreciated. I’m truly encouraged to see improvements across the district, including four of our schools moving up from a D. However, there is still much work ahead, and we haven’t lost sight of that challenge. I am confident in Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin and her team as they continue to put our students first and strive for excellence,” School Board Chair Sam Fisher said.

MangoMania fruit fest set for Saturday

By PAULETTE LeBLANC news@breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island’s popular fruit fest, MangoMania, is set for Saturday,

The July 12 event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, at the Winn-Dixie Plaza at 9864 Stringfellow Road. It is hosted by the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce.

The festival features tropical plants, trees and fruit for sale; planting seminars, mango recipe contests, as well as a contest featuring the biggest mango. Lots of live music, food based on mangos and tropical fruits, adult beverages, arts, crafts and island businesses are also featured.

A $5 donation is appreciated at the gate to benefit island businesses.

The music begins at 9 a.m. with DJ

Maggie from Inferno Rock Radio. At 2 p.m., Sheena Brook will take the stage. A multi-genre singer-songwriter, Brook became known to American television audiences as a contestant on THE VOICE in 2017.

If you think you have Pine Island’s biggest mango, you’re invited to the weigh in, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the seminar tent. The recipe contest sign-in is between 9-11 a.m. Participants can sign in and drop off their mango bread, dessert, jams, salsa or condiments at the food contest tent. Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m.

See the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce website for a full list of contest categories. Visit pineislandchamber.org/.

Housing: Market is traditionally cyclical, ‘corrections’ to be expected

From page 1

“To properly assess market health, one must consider both price trends and inventory dynamics. In October 2021, Cape Coral recorded:

n “Median home price: $369,000

n Homes for sale: 773

n Closed sales: 551

n Pending sales: 611

n Months supply of inventory: 1.3

n Sale-to-list price ratio: 100% “

“This was a classic seller’s market characterized by low inventory and strong buyer demand. By June 2025, the picture had shifted:

n “Median sale price: $371,850

n Homes for sale: 3,046

n Closed sales: 447

n Pending sales: 482

n Months supply of inventory: 7.3

n Sale-to-list price ratio: 97.7%”

“While inventory has increased significantly, the median price has held steady, and buyer activity remains consistent, albeit at a more sustainable pace,” the association said, adding that foreclosure activity remains low and a slowing of new home construction permitting for new homes … “may help recalibrate supply and support market equilibrium.”

Its conclusion?

“The Southwest Florida housing market, particularly Cape Coral, is transitioning from a historically tight seller’s market into one where buyers have more choice and negotiating power. This is a natural correction, not a collapse,” the letter states.

The WSJ cited several factors including falling home prices.

“Home prices for Cape Coral-Fort Myers have tumbled 11% in the two years through May, the most of any major metro area, according to an analysis for The Wall Street Journal by the listing site Homes.com.

“The area’s home prices have declined for 12 out of the past 13 months, and 52% of the homes have experienced price cuts, according to Parcl Labs, a real-estate data-analytics company. While that is more than nearly anywhere else in the U.S., neighboring communities such as Sarasota and Tampa are in a similar bind.”

The WSJ report also says the Cape has more homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth in the current market.

“Cape Coral also has the most homeowners underwater in the country, with nearly 8% owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.”

This does not mean no one is buying, according to local Realtors.

Price, however, continues to be the deciding factor as to whether a home will sit on the market, or quickly sell in the area.

Bob Quinn, with RE/MAX Realty, said sellers who are having difficulty are generally starting at a listing price that is too high for the current market.

“I would say sellers and a lot of Realtors are pretty frustrated with how long it takes to get homes sold,” he said. “If you are priced right to the market, you will generally sell fairly quickly — get showing appointments and you will generally get an offer in a reasonable time frame. If you are not getting showing appointments, that means the market is overpriced.”

Quinn provided an example of the current highest priced single-family home listed for sale in Cape Coral; a new construction riverfront home built in 2023. The home was listed at $11.9 million from Oct. 25, 2023, to Feb. 27, 2024, before being taken off the market because it did not sell. It came back on the market in 2024 for three months at $10.9 million, again not selling. On June 20 it was listed once again at $8.9 million, a $3 million price reduction in less than two years.

There are a number of factors affecting the housing market, many not unique to Southwest Florida.

CITY OF CAPE CORAL CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD

The Cape Coral City Council will be accepting applications for the following Boards, Commissions or Committees:

CAPE CORAL CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD

BUSINESS COMMUNITY VACANCY - TERM EXPIRES 11/30/2025

MEMBER ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must meet each of the following requirements:

(1) Citizen of the United States

(2) Full-time resident of Cape Coral, Florida

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, August 1, 2025

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE:

On-Line: https://www.capecoral.gov/department/clerk/boards_and_committees2.php

CLICK "Boards and Committees" CLICK "Vacancies" CLICK "Board Vacancies that Require a Form 1"

In-Person: City Hall-City Clerk’s Office, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral, FL, Monday-Friday 7:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. EST

By Mail: Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (239) 574-0411.

The Cape Coral Charter School Authority Governing Board oversees the operations of the municipal charter school system. The eleven-member board includes seven voting members, and four non-voting parent representatives. CSA Governing Board Members are certified and appointed to a two-year term by the Cape Coral City Council. Membership includes:

City Council Member - 1

Business Community -1 VACANT

Education Community* -1

Community at Large - 4

Parent Representatives (Non-voting) - 4

For more information, please contact the Governing Board Secretary at 239-424-6100

headwinds in mid-2025, due to elevated mortgage rates, high home prices and the rising economic uncertainty.

The mortgage rate continues to be around 6.5% - lower than the peak in late 2023, according to Veros Real Estate Solutions, and the average monthly mortgage payment is up 35% compared to 2021 levels for the same home price, due to the jump in interest rates.

Veros stated that Cape Coral/Fort Myers is ranked one in the 10 weakest metropolitan statistical areas, followed by Naples and Marco Island in the second slot and Punta Gorda in the fourth slot.

Quinn said there is potentially a structural issue in the market — median incomes are too low for where the home prices are listed.

“For a lot of people, incomes are not high enough. Income has to go up quite a bit, or home prices need to come down more,” he said.

Quinn said ever since Hurricane Ian, Helene, and Milton, people are looking to list their homes to move away due to high cost of homes and insurance, as well as hassles that come with hurricane damage.

There is also a structural change in the population demographic.

Cape Coral has always been a community with a heavy retiree population — buying a second home for the winter, before eventually moving to Cape Coral full-time. When a spouse pass away, Quinn said the remaining one moves back up north.

“A lot of people in that age group, with storms and high costs, they move back up to where their kids and grandkids are,” he said resulting in a population shift. “This isn’t just happening here. It’s happening throughout most of Florida, along with other states. We are not alone. This is happening in a number of areas.”

According to Veros Real Estate Solutions, the housing market for the United States continues to face

The change in the market, started about three years ago when the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates — aggressively raising in March 2022, resulting in a big drop-off in sales in July 2022 beyond what is normally seen seasonally, Quinn said.

With that said, homes are still selling, but are price sensitive. He said the price has to be right to attract the buyer,

See HOUSING, page 34

The Breeze educaTion

July 11, 2025

Education BriEfs

Kral named to Mississippi State University’s spring 2025 Deans’ List

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. — Samantha Kral of Cape Coral was named to the Mississippi State University spring 2025 Deans’ List.

To be named to the Deans’ List, a student must have achieved a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.79, based on a 4.0 scale, while completing at least 12 semester hours of coursework with no incomplete grades or grades lower than a C.

Mississippi State University is a national STEMfocused, doctoral degree-granting, land-grant university offering a wide range of educational experiences for a student body of more than 23,000 students. For more about the university, visit https://www.msstate.edu/

Devito-Spiro recognized on Georgia Southern University’s Spring 2025 President’s List

STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Southern University recently recognized approximately 2,420 students on the Spring 2025 President’s List. Austin Devito-Spiro of Cape Coral has been named to the list for excellence in academics. To be eligible for the President’s List, a student must have at least a 4.0 grade point average and carry a minimum of 12 hours for the semester.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 155 different degree programs serving more than 27,506 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Thibodeaux named 2024-25 PSAC Scholar-Athlete at Kutztown University

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Kutztown University athletics has recognized 237 student-athletes on the 2024-25 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s scholar-athlete list, including Saige Thibodeaux of Cape Coral.

The 237 Golden Bears account for 54% of the department. This year also marks the sixth year in a row that the Golden Bears have eclipsed the 200 honoree mark.

In order to be eligible for PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.

Founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is located in East Penn Valley in Berks County. KU students select from more than 130 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. For more about the university, visit https://www.kutztown.edu/

Vidrick named to Dean’s List at UW-River Falls

RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The spring semester Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been released by Registrar Kelly Browning. It honors 1,491 students.

Anthony Vidrick of Cape Coral, who is majoring in finance, was among those honored.

To be named to the Dean’s List, a full-time undergraduate must earn a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a scale of 4.0, or midway between an “A” and “B” average. Area students are listed below by name, hometown and major.

Founded in 1874, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a regional public university with more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs. Learn more at uwrf.edu.

Pencek graduates from Shenandoah University

WINCHESTER, Va. — Dylan Pencek of Cape Coral was among the 1,369 graduates who received their degrees and/or certificates from Shenandoah University during the 2024-25 academic year.

Pencek earned a master of business administration and a business analytics graduate certificate. Shenandoah University was established in 1875, and is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke and Loudoun counties, and online offerings. Shenandoah is a private university with wide-ranging education with approximately 4,400 students in more than 200 areas of study in six different schools. For more information, visit su.edu.

Oasis High students provide tech support to Gulf Coast Village residents

By DIANA NICOL Special to The Breeze

One of the most valuable things in life is time. Each second, minute and hour count toward something, big or small. In Southwest Florida, volunteerism is embedded in the community. With over 600 nonprofits in Lee County alone, it’s clear that Southwest Florida has a heart for giving. That generosity, care and patience spans across generations, from adults spending their weekends off work cleaning up beautiful beaches, to high school students helping out at local food banks after school wraps up for the year.

For students at Oasis High School in Cape Coral, they’ve chosen to venture over to a local senior living community, Gulf Coast Village, after the final bell rings. Why? To offer support on a subject most Gen Zers consider themselves experts at: technology.

Computer Literacy Education Outreach, or CLEO, is a student-run organization at Oasis High. The program initially started in 2022 at Canterbury School in Fort Myers, but it quickly took the community -- and nation -- by storm. Since its inception, CLEO has expanded to more than 50 schools in 20 states and has served over 3,000 older adults. Its mission is to “empower seniors with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the digital world, helping them stay connected with loved ones and maintain independence.”

Gulf Coast Village, the only life plan community in Cape Coral, has been working with CLEO students since the summer of 2023, when they welcomed students from Cape Coral High School into the community. When the 2024-25 academic year began, the community began partnering with the Oasis High School division of CLEO.

Shya Ruiz, a 2025 graduate of Oasis High, joined the

program with a friend in 2023 during its first year at her school. After her first year, she loved it so much that she was elected to the role of president in 2024.

“I just like the feeling of helping other people when they’re needing help,” said Ruiz. “The smiles that you get when they finally understand or their problem gets solved...it’s rewarding.”

As president, one of her primary responsibilities was scheduling the sessions at Gulf Coast Village. It’s an organized system: once a month, a group of five to six student volunteers visits Gulf Coast Village to assist residents. If they’re in need of help, residents can register for a 15-minute time slot. When their time comes, they are matched up with a student to receive specialized one-on-one support

See TECH SUPPORT, page 33

Premier Mobile Health Services holding Back to School Supply Drive

As the new school year approaches, Premier Mobile Health Services is asking for community support to ensure Southwest Florida students have access to school supplies that fuel success in the classroom.

The nonprofit is hosting its 7th Annual Back to School Supply Drive and is collecting donations of backpacks, filler paper, composition notebooks, 64MB USB flash drives, crayons and more. Items are now being accepted at Premier Mobile Health’s Walk-in Clinic at 10676 Colonial Blvd., Suite 20, in Fort Myers. The full Amazon wish list of requested school supplies is available at https://a.co/2hVIhZH or on Premier Mobile Health’s website.

Donations will be accepted until Monday, July 28. Supplies will be distributed to children of all ages after they complete a preventative health screening at the event on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 3-7 p.m. at Mount Hermon Church, 2856 Douglas Ave., Fort Myers.

“Our mission has always been to meet people where they are, whether that’s through accessible health care or helping families prepare for a new school year,” said Dr. Nadine “Deanie” Singh, CEO of Premier Mobile Health Services. “This drive is about more than school supplies. It’s about giving children the confidence and resources they need to start the year strong, healthy and ready to learn, regardless of their circumstances.”

Founded by Singh in 2018, Premier Mobile Health Services offers an array of medical services to children, families and individuals in underserved communities, including preventive screenings, vaccinations, nutrition counseling, school physicals and more.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 239288-7949. Additional information, the monthly mobile clinic schedule, can be found online at www.premiermobilehealth.org.

Oasis High students help Gulf Coast Village resident Bill Burg, right.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Oasis High School CLEO students at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral.

Red, White & BOOM! again drew thousands to the South Cape on the Fourth of July.

Billed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department as Southwest Florida’s largest single-day event, attendees turned out by the hundreds wearing red, white and blue outfits, sparkling hats, patriotic paint and Americaflag themed garb.

At left, Red, White & BOOM! attendees smile in front of official event signage for the city of Cape Coral’s annual Independence Day street party.

Above: Sisters Zoya Bethke and Arinna Kenney, decked out for the holiday, smile while attending Red, White & BOOM!

Left: The proprietor of a Fudge Shop along the Red, White & BOOM! concessions area greets customers queuing up for a sweet treat.

Above left: Jaylynn and Kenley Kelleman from Cape Coral attend their second Red, White and BOOM!

PHOTOS BY CASEY BRADLEY GENT

The largest fireworks display in Southwest Florida puts the boom in the city of Cape Coral’s Red, White & BOOM! celebration.

Below, clockwise from left – A Red, White and BOOM! attendee arrives in festive attire; July Fourth revelers secure seating ahead of the fireworks display; volunteers help make Red, White & BOOM! possible.

Cape

CASEY BRADLEY GENT

Disclosure always best for sellers and buyers alike

Mr. Feichthaler:

With the storm surge last week that nearly got in my house, I read that there is a new law starting this week that a Flood Disclosure must be made any time a property is sold. Is this true, and would I need to disclose that water “almost” got to my house?

- Charlie H.

Dear Charlie:

First, thankful that you did not have water intrusion with the latest storm. The surge was just a few inches from entering our offices, and my thoughts are with anyone who suffered damage or harm to their family from Hurricane Helene.

House Bill 1049, effective Oct. 1, 2024, requires a Flood Disclosure to be made to any potential buyer of residential real estate. This form includes disclosing whether you have filed an insurance claim for flood, or received federal assistance due to flood damage. The required Flood Disclosure only claims made. However, it has always been the law in Florida that any damage the property received as a result of flooding, or other natural disaster, should be disclosed if it created a material defect and is not readily observable.

Real Estate Law

Failure to provide this disclosure can result in serious negative consequences to you as Seller, including allowing the buyer to back out of the contract at any time prior to closing (even when there are no contingencies), you could be sued for damages later, even for flooding that occurs later, and other potential legal trouble.

Consider what you would want to know if you were buying a property. Generally, those are the same items that should be disclosed to a buyer to protect you from potential allegations and financial responsibility later. You can honestly advise a buyer that you haven’t had any water intrusion, even with the two “100-year storms “ we have had since 2022. As a matter of protection from a disappointed buyer, consider also disclosing the close call we had last week. Anyone who was here last week or here during Hurricane Ian understands that a flood could happen in our city. By officially disclosing this, you will have one less thing to worry about after selling.

This column was published October 2024

Eric P. Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 37 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral. After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he returned to Cape Coral to practice law and raise a family. He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, and Cape Coral Kiwanis where he serves as president. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 24 years, and they have four children. He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar, and primarily practices in real estate law and wills and trusts. He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney .com, or 239-542-4733.

This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone. Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations.

Eric P. Feichthaler

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

‘What we’ve got here, is failure to communicate’

Some of you may recognize the headline, borrowed from the classic line in the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke” starring Paul Newman in the title role as Luke, a prisoner in a 1950s Florida prison camp who refused to submit to the system. This seems to be a fitting description of the mini-firestorm set off in our local real estate market from the Wall Street Journal article written by Deborah Acosta on Monday, June 30, titled, “The Worst Housing Market in America Is Now Florida’s Cape Coral.” This headline was quickly picked up by our local television newscasts with responses from some local Realtors and from our local Realtors Association. The local outrage over the story was largely based on the belief that the headline was a sensationalized effort on the Journal’s part to sell more newspapers and that the facts used by Acosta lacked accurate context making them misleading. So let’s peel the shells off of 50 hard boiled eggs and dig into the details to see if we can get to the bottom of this dispute.

We will begin with the belief on the part of many local Realtors that the headline to Acosta’s article was a sensationalized effort on the part of the Wall Street Journal to sell more newspapers. Realtors were upset because the Journal specifically singled out Cape Coral in the headline as “the worst housing market in America” for the whole world to see without even needing to read the article. Obviously, there can be a lot of influence in people’s minds from something being written negatively like this about Cape Coral. At the same time, we would be remiss not to note that headlines are designed to pique your interest and curiosity so you click on the article or buy the newspaper, and hopefully read the article. This leads us to ask the question, was the information in the article accurate based on the headline or was it exaggerated clickbait? After reading Acosta’s article multiple times, we found it to be a pretty accurate portrayal of our current market conditions based on what we would consider to be reliable sources. It largely followed what we have been writing about in this column for the better part of the last three years. Her sourced market data and “on the ground” stories from several homeowners trying to sell their homes was consistent with what we are seeing.

For those of you who have not read the article, here is an overview of the key points. First, Acosta noted what we have called the post-COVID market boom by stating that the median home price soared nearly 75% in three years. Then she said, “Now, three years later, ‘For Sale’ signs line every other block. Open houses are deserted for hours. Foreclosures are ticking up. Home builders are listing half-built shells at discounts as they abandon projects to cut losses.” All true in one form or another. She then quoted an obviously frustrated local Realtor who said, “Cape Coral is the worst housing market in America right now,” which is where the headline was likely derived from. The Realtor added, “I don’t think we’re at the bottom yet.” That was followed by analysis done for the Wall Street Journal by the listing site Homes.com that stated, “Home prices for Cape Coral-Fort Myers have tumbled 11% in the two years through May, the most of any major metro area.”

contrary to headlines suggesting steep declines.” In our opinion, they then “schooled” Acosta about not “understanding supply and demand in Cape Coral,” noting that “to properly assess market health, one must consider both price trends and inventory dynamics” (emphasis by the RPCRA). They concluded that our housing market is a “market in transition, not in trouble,” while reiterating their point that, “this is a natural correction, not a collapse” and that one should seek out “comprehensive data rather than isolated narratives.”

Getting back to our “Cool Hand Luke” theme, basically Acosta has taken on the role of Luke by willfully going out and “decapitating some parking meters” in Cape Coral, while challenging the established order in our real estate market with her headline. The RPCRA seems to have taken on the movie role of the Captain, originally played by actor Strother Martin, by standing over a battered Luke and declaring, “Don’t you ever talk to me that way,” as they questioned the supposed recklessness of Luke’s behavior and determining it was worthy of “a night in the box.” But keep in mind that “Luke” never said anything in the article about a market collapse, a crash or even “a steep decline.” Luke simply noted what has happened, including some of the obvious problems currently occurring in our market, and she used reliable sources that have data indicating prices in Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area are down some 11% over the past two years. Again, inline with our data from the MLS.

Basically, this is a good example of how one can take virtually the same market data, tweak the time frames a bit and then interpret it and shape it differently. We could make the argument that both sides are correct, but in our opinion it seems that what a lot of sellers are actually feeling and experiencing in real time are based more on Acosta’s interpretation. So it seems “what we’ve got here, is failure to communicate” between the data interpretations.

Acosta also used information provided by Parcl Labs, a real-estate data analytics company. They noted that their data shows “the area’s home prices have declined for 12 out of the past 13 months, and 52% of the homes have experienced price cuts.” Parcl added, “While that is more than nearly anywhere else in the U.S., neighboring communities such as Sarasota and Tampa are in a similar bind.” In our opinion, nothing outrageous or deviating from what we are seeing.

Acosta also included some interviews with Cape Coral homeowners who have had to make multiple price reductions resulting in fairly substantial price cuts from their initial list prices as they try to attract a buyer for their homes. Acosta mentioned that housing markets across the country are battling various factors that are hurting home sales and prices, “but Cape Coral is suffering from nearly every affliction that can cause a housing market to slump.” Nowhere in her article did she use the words “crash” or “collapse” to describe our market. So the beef would seem to be about the perceived “unfairness” of putting Cape Coral in the headline.

Then our local Royal Palm Coast Realtor’s Association (RPCRA), combined with the Florida Gulf Coast Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (MLS), came out with their rebuttal to Acosta’s July 3 article. This rebuttal stated that characterizing Cape Coral as the worst market in America “lacks critical context and overlooks the broader dynamics shaping our regional real estate trends.” It also discussed “market cycles and price normalization” with MLS data from October and December 2021 to June 2025, showing median sales prices in Southwest Florida and Cape Coral are simply back to where they started from, which “reflects a normalization rather than a collapse.” In describing the roughly four year “round trip” in home prices, the RPCRA stated, “These figures underscore a relatively stable pricing trend over the past four years,

The fact is that there are problems in the real estate market here and across much of Florida, which may be structural in nature. We will have more on that next week. A lot of sellers are overpricing their homes when they put them on the market, then finding they need to make some pretty aggressive price reductions to attract a buyer. We are also continuing to see homebuilders cutting list prices and offering some incredible incentives to buyers, which is indicative of problems in the market. And finally, virtually every local Realtor doing business here has some skeletons in the closet of listings that have had some fairly large price cuts.

(The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla., as of July 8, 2025, unless otherwise noted. It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral single-family homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures. The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice. The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral. They have lived in Cape Coral for over 45 years. Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014. Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots.)

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Fri. 7/11/2025 10-11:30am 3617 Embers Pkwy W, Cape Coral, FL 33993

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Ryan Benner Sellstate Priority Realty

Lacey Dickinson Legacy International Realty

Nate Wright ViiBE Realty

Sat. 7/12/2025 10-1pm 2019 SW 43rd Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33914 $425,000 Deb Lau ERA Cape Realty

Sat. 7/12/2025 11-2pm 2022 NW 21st Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33993 $289,900 Jerome Abram Sunrise Realty Network

Sat. 7/12/2025 12-2pm 210 NE 24th Ave, Cape Coral, FL 33909

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John Garuti EXP REALTY

$409,999 Melissa Patriarca Redfin Corporation

Sat. 7/12/2025 12-2pm 4012 SW 28th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33914 $675,000 Michael Andreas Kolb Downing Frye Realty

Sat. 7/12/2025 12-3pm 2022 NW 9th Ter, Cape Coral, FL 33993

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Sat. 7/12/2025 1:30-4:30 pm 116 SE 5th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33990

7/12/2025 2-4:30 pm 1719 NW 15th St, Cape Coral, FL 33993

Jenzel Guerrero La Belle Mar Corp

Melissa Patriarca Redfin Corporation

Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of permanent blindness, often does its damage silently - with no noticeable symptoms - as vision is lost. Glaucoma affects an estimated 3 million Americans, but most people don’t know they have the condition until it’s revealed in an eye exam.

Once vision is lost, it cannot be recovered. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness. That’s why when it comes to detecting and treating glaucoma, the earlier, the better.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by increased pressure in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve and reduce vision, sometimes making objects look blurry or dark. Early on, most people don’t notice what’s happening, but as glaucoma progresses, you may notice some loss of peripheral vision. By this point, the disease has progressed significantly toward blindness, and treatment options may be limited.

Diagnosing Glaucoma

Regular eye exams, including specific glaucoma tests, are important for the early detection and diagnosis of glaucoma. If diagnosed early, an eye doctor can recommend treatment to manage glaucoma and help prevent vision loss.

“Many patients are surprised to learn glaucoma often presents with no initial symptoms,” said Oluwatosin U. Smith, MD, glaucoma specialist and ophthalmologist at Glaucoma Associates of Texas. “That’s why routine, comprehensive eye exams are so vital. These screenings allow us to detect glaucoma in its earliest stages, often before any vision loss occurs. Early diagnosis and treatment are the cornerstone of effective glaucoma management and it empowers us to take proactive steps to protect your vision.”

To check for glaucoma, your eye doctor tests your eye pressure, peripheral vision and overall eye health. The painless screening is the only way to accurately diagnose the condition and determine appropriate treatment.

Traditional Glaucoma Treatment

For decades, prescription eye drops have been the most common treatment to help lower eye pressure and slow the progression of the disease.

Although prescription eye drops are commonly prescribed and generally effective at lowering eye pressure, they can cause challenges and unwanted side effects, including redness, irritation, burning, stinging or difficulty putting them in the eye. In addition, patients may find it difficult to remember to take their eye drops every day, and missing doseseven by accident - can put vision at risk by allowing eye pressure to rise unchecked.

When prescription eye drops are unsuccessful at controlling eye pressure or managing glaucoma, an eye doctor may change treatment by prescribing additional prescription eye drops, which can make the challenges and inconveniences associated with prescription eye drops worse.

From Family Features

Modern Glaucoma Management

Takes a Proactive Approach

Modern glaucoma management is evolving with a shift from reactive - that is, take prescription eye drops and “watch and wait” until glaucoma progresses before exploring alternative treatmentto proactive management.

Taking a proactive approach to glaucoma treatment means choosing a minimally invasive procedure earlier in the treatment journey to help slow the progression of glaucoma and minimize vision loss while reducing the challenges of daily prescription eye drops.

“The shift toward a more proactive approach represents a significant advancement in how we manage glaucoma,” Smith said. “Traditionally, we waited for vision loss before a procedural intervention. However, with modern minimally invasive procedures, we can now proactively lower eye pressure and protect the optic nerve much earlier. This approach helps us preserve our patients’ vision and quality of life for longer. I encourage anyone with a glaucoma diagnosis, or those with risk factors, to discuss proactive options with their ophthalmologist.”

Source: Glaukos

SporTS

Others are having their own on-boat tussles with tarpon

After writing last week about an unusual number of hooked tarpon jumping, then landing in my boat I was surprised by the number of emails and photos from anglers all wanting to share their personal in-boat tarpon battle stories. Apparently I’m not the only target of these crazed fish.

Local angler Roy Bennett had his close encounter a few years back, leaving his large bay boat a front-to-back, slimy, bloody mess. From the photos, it looked like someone had been butchering cattle. Two other anglers sent photos of their boats’ center consoles knocked loose and shifted from their attachment points while still others described rods, reels, assorted tackle boxes, coolers and other gear kicked out by these panicked fish now completely out of their element.

Capt. George Tunison

If you’re fortunate, the intruder will only stay for a short visit before flipping itself back into the water, which typically happens if you’re in a skiff. If you’re in a bay boat with high sides somewhat trapping the fish, that’s when your trouble starts. Again, it’s the complete tarpon experience with the big surprise ending. Good luck!

With tarpon spread out in waters along the coast from Knapp’s Point to Englewood, as well as in Redfish, Captiva and Boca Grande passes, there are lots of opportunities for success. Whether you like soaking baits on the bottom, staking out and intercepting pods of fish moving along or off the beaches using lures, flies or live threadfins and pinfish or fishing crabs in the passes, right now our area has a fish for you and your favorite angling technique. It may be a good time to try the passes this coming weekend, especially in the late afternoon into the evening as tides will fall from a high of 1.9 down to – 0.3 backed up by a full moon, which should funnel lots of moving water as well as crabs and baitfish into the mouths of waiting tarpon.

I haven’t received any reports this week of tarpon in the center of Charlotte Harbor around the “deep holes,” but in the lower harbor or the north end of Matlacha Pass two parties reported multiple hook-ups. My best bet

See ON-BOAT TUSSLES, page 33

Tide CharT

July 11, 2025

Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples holding Florida women’s amateur golf championship this weekend

Over 80 of Florida’s top female amateur golfers will converge this weekend at Vanderbilt Country Club of Naples, as the club hosts the prestigious annual Florida State Golf Association Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship tournament, this weekend, July 11-13. The winner will be named at an awards luncheon for the contestants around 3:30 p.m., Sunday, July 13, in the Visa Room.

Two golfers from Fort Myers and several others from Southwest Florida are competing in the event.

“This is the most celebrated event for women’s amateur golf in Florida and an exceptional opportunity for VCC to contribute to the game of golf at the highest level,” said VCC Director of Golf Dominick Izzo. “We are proud to serve as the last-minute host for this tournament. Our members are excited about witnessing three days of exceptional golf played by some of the best female amateur players in Florida. Players will be on the property days before the event for practice rounds.”

in Florida with a field of 84 players each day. The championship is open to female amateur golfers who are Florida residents with a handicap index of 10.0 or less. The overall champion will be the player with the lowest 54-hole total score.

Eagle Creek Country Club had been the original intended host, but a weather challenge delayed a tee renovation project, making their golf course unable to host the premier event. This led the FSGA to seek another tournament site. As Vanderbilt had previously hosted other FSGA Men’s and Ladies’ tournaments, officials contacted VCC to offer the event.

Originally designed by Gordon G. Lewis, the 18-hole par 72 course is enhanced by lush fairways, sparkling lakes and stunning landscape. The course was re-designed by acclaimed architect Kipp Schulties in 2015. Although the club is private, they offer an Elite Guest Pasa Program during the months of May through October for a limited number of individuals.

The Women’s Amateur Championship is a 54-hole individual gross stroke play competition for female golfers

For additional information about the championship tournament and for a list of those competing for the title, visit fsga.org

Mussels split first two with Threshers

Clearwater outlast Fort Myers, 3-2

Clearwater, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers outlasted the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels in a 3-2 game Wednesday night at BayCare Ballpark.

The contest was tied from the bottom of the second until the bottom of the eighth when Clearwater broke through for the game-winning run off of Dylan Questad (3-6).

John Spikerman led off with a single and then stole second. All-Star Futures Game selection Eduardo Tait then singled to right to give Clearwater its first lead of the series as the Threshers went ahead 3-2. Brennan Oxford entered and recorded all three outs in the inning as he worked his sixth consecutive scoreless appearance.

Mussels’ starter Michael Carpenter worked into the third and got the first two outs of the inning before giving way to Questad. The 20-year-old righty retired the first seven batters he faced and 13 of the first 14 batters in his outing.

For the Mussels, in the top of the first, Dameury Pena led off the game with a double to left-center. He advanced and later scored on a pair of flyouts from Yasser Mercedes and Daniel Pena to make it 1-0.

With one out in the second, the Mussels’ Blaze O’Saben deposited an opposite field single to right. He then stole second to tally his 10th steal of the season. Two batters later Dameury Pena singled to short and brought O’Saben home, making it 2-0. With the infield single, Pena recorded his third consecutive multi-hit game.

The Threshers answered in the bottom of the second. Juan Villavicencio led off the frame with a walk. He then stole second and later came around to score on a groundrule double off the bat of Carter Mathison. The Thresher outfielder pulled a ball down the first base line that became trapped under the tarp, making it 2-1. Raider Tello followed with a single to center, tying the game 2-2.

In the third, Peyton Carr pulled a leadoff single down the left field line to extend his on base streak to 10 games.

Adison Peralta (2-1) threw the final three innings for Clearwater and faced just one hitter above the minimum.

Fort Myers’ hitters did not strike out until the sixth in-

ning against Clearwater pitching.

Following Thursday night’s game, the Mussels/ Threshers series continues with 6:30 p.m. games today and Saturday and a noon contest Sunday. Coverage is on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.

Bohorquez deals again as Mighty Mussels defeat Threshers 7-1 Clearwater, Fla. - Mighty Mussels’ pitching allowed just two hits on the night as Fort Myers led wire-to-wire in a 7-1 win over the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday at BayCare Ballpark.

Reigning Florida State League Pitcher of The Week Adrian Bohorquez (2-3) dominated for the second time in as many outings. He spun five shutout innings while yielding just one hit. The 20-year-old picked up three strikeouts against one walk and a hit-by-pitch. He has now thrown 10 scoreless innings in July with just one hit allowed.

Bohorquez threw 68 pitches, his second highest total of the season, and topped out at 97.2 mph. His ERA since the start of June is now 1.95 across 27.2 innings.

The Mussels (34-46, 7-9) got out in front early, as Byran Acuna singled to center and drove in Yasser Mercedes in the first to make it 1-0.

That margin would hold until the fifth, when Mercedes plated Damuery Pena with an RBI double off the top of the wall in left-center. Mercedes would then steal third and score on a sacrifice fly from Caleb McNeely to make it 3-0. He is now 23-for-23 on stolen base attempts this year.

With one out in the sixth, the Mussels connected on four consecutive hits, highlighted by a three-run home run from Jefferson Valladares to extend their lead 7-0. The home run was Valladares’ fifth of the season.

Zander Sechrist entered in the sixth and worked two scoreless innings. The lefty struck out four batters, including three in a row in the seventh. Mussels pitching allowed just one runner to reach scoring position over the first seven innings of play.

Peyton Carr recorded his second consecutive multi-hit game. He’s now hitting .279 since the start of June.

The Fort Myers offense tallied double-digit hits for the second time in as many games.

Clearwater (41-40, 6-9) scored their lone run in the ninth on a ground out from Alirio Ferrebus.

Peyton Carr

On-boat tussles: Other anglers report battles with flopping silver king

From page 32

weekend pick is to hit the passes or just outside either north or south, along or just off the beach.

Area surf zones and again the passes are hosting lots of snook doing their thing on this full moon weekend. If you catch a big summer spawning female, do it and future anglers a favor and avoid handling it by carefully releasing it while in the water. Hanging large heavy fish by your Boga

Grip for a picture is a bad plan, causing damage and often delayed death. Don’t be that guy! Let them reproduce unharmed. Although there are plenty of opportunities to get your snook game on this week with our population of local fish, traveling anglers looking for an even better shot at catching a true giant might consider heading over to the east coast to give one of their passes a try where, quite often, you can see the jumbo snook you want to target. Unless you’re familiar with those passes,

leave your boat at home while you and a buddy split guide fees making it affordable and as well as providing a better shot for success as most of the area’s guides have it pretty much dialed in. If you have the time, also keep in mind their coastal beach fishing for tarpon, snook and sharks is also blazing hot right now.

Back at home our backwater gang likes getting out sight fishing shallow reds, snook and juvie tarpon, especially after cooling rains turn everything on while

our offshore crews are finding fish from nearshore numbers out to 150 to 200foot depths when conditions allow such a journey. Things change quickly in the Gulf of America. Not sure about the weather? Don’t push your luck.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.

Tech support: Oasis High group assisting Gulf Coast Village residents

From page 19

for whatever technology issues they’re having. And the possibilities are endless. Whether it’s needing help getting their printer connected to their cell phone or trying to figure out how to change their profile picture on Instagram, the students are able to help with whatever the residents need.

The troubleshooting is diverse. One resident, Bill, had a few finicky issues with his Samsung cell phone. He needed some help setting up his facial recognition and managing notifications, but his main issue was that when he received a text

message, he was unable to find it. After a few minutes with Oasis’ students, Bill figured out how to access his texts. Now, he’ll never miss a text from his loving wife, Marguerite.

Some residents, like Jayne Jennings, face some challenges with social media, as it continues to be an ever-popular way for retirees to stay connected to their loved ones. Luckily, Gen Zers are social media aficionados.

Ava Plainte, a CLEO student, showed Jennings the ropes, and she left the session with a new profile picture and a newfound knowledge of how to “favorite”

photos in her iPhone camera roll.

Some issues are a bit trickier, like connecting a printer to a cell phone or clearing out the junk storage of an iPad, while some are simpler, like showing residents how to set a morning alarm or mute an Instagram story they didn’t want to see. With each presented issue, the students and residents work together for a solution. Most importantly, the students are compassionate, patient and attentive. They walk the residents seeking help through the process step-by-step so that when the session is over, they’re able to navigate the solution on their own.

Opportunities for generations of both older and younger to connect are special. Intergenerational relationships present several benefits, like relationship building and avoiding adolescent egocentrism, but they also present the opportunity to learn. Through CLEO, retirees across the nation have the chance to learn something new every day from the generation that grew up on technology.

Diana Nicol is the life enrichment coordinator at Gulf Coast Village. To learn more, visit GulfCoastVillage.org or call 239-510-8712.

‘Spectacular:’ Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina opens on holiday

From page 14

We make fresh tzatziki and hummus every single day,” GreekSpot owner Tina Chalkias said.

Slipaway, Aubuchon said, takes away the conversation of deciding where to eat when friends and family are visiting because there is something for everyone.

The marina also adds a splash of vibrancy with a “fantastic promenade that goes along the shoreline in front of the all the docks for seating,” Aubuchon said. “You will see people sitting down by the water watching boats come and go. It’s really a vibrant waterfront.”

There are dock hands to help everyone come in safely and securely.

“We just had a short boat trip today to get here. No time to even see any dolphins. It’s beautiful,” Teresa Gunter, Mayor John Gunters wife, said.

Aubuchon said there were people fueling up their boat Saturday morning before the park even opened, which was great to see.

The waterfront connectivity was a very important element of the project, as well as waterfront views from the pavilions and seating areas.

The central pavilion, dubbed “the helm” has a large bar and seating for 150 people.

The store is another beautiful space at the park, Aubuchon said, as it has everything a boater would need for a day on the water, as well as logo merchandise.

“People were really enjoying walking through the space. It’s again more views of the water – lots of sunlight and vistas. There is seating outside the slip store that was being used as well,” he said.

Aubuchon said it was amazing to see the

culmination of what has been a five-year journey, open and be so well received.

“The one aspect that was even better than I thought, was the quality of the food from the 10 food trucks. The most difficult decision anyone is going to have when they come to Slipaway is what to eat. The options are almost limitless,” he said.

The park is open seven days a week, with the marina opening at 8 a.m., the bar opening at 10 a.m. and the food trucks opening at 11 a.m. The park closes at 10 p.m.

Aubuchon encourages everyone to try the park for themselves, as they will become a huge fan.

“The first few weeks we are going to learn how people interact with Slipaway,”

Air plants: Unique, fun to display

From page 16

there are a number of flowers. It may last a week or for months. Slowly, the parent plant will die, but will produce new sprouts off the sides. When they get half the size of the parent, they can be removed and grown on their own. Or you may snip the leaves of the parent plant off and allow the babies to grow in its place.

Tillandsias are unique to our part of the world and fun to display. Give them a try and experience them for yourself!

Sherie Bleiler volunteers at the Cape Coral Library butterfly garden, Sands Park butterfly garden and is past president of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit www. gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on Facebook and Instagram.

he said.

There is an assumption that some boaters will come for the day, while others may stop for a bite to eat before going out for the day. Others who come by car may come for a bite to eat and leave, while others may enjoy the live entertainment that will be offered seven days a week.

“We fully expect some people to make a day of it, and some are going to come for an hour or two,” Aubuchon said.

The owners have already taken some

steps to alleviate parking. He said they have leased an offsite parking area for all staff, so all parking remains available for customers.

“We try to keep our entire parking lot available to customers. If we get to a point that we cannot accommodate all of our customers, we have contingency plans to have some additional parking – whether a shuttle service, or water taxi. We are going to evaluate that as time goes on,” Aubuchon said.

Cape Coral animal Shelter

Looking for a loving home

Smokie is a super senior at 12+ years young. His hearing is a bit fuzzy, and his vision’s not quite 20/20, but he does see the couch just fine (prime nap real estate, if you ask him). He’s a calm, quiet fellow who thrives in a cozy home, enjoys slow strolls and promises not to judge your choice in TV shows— as long as he gets a spot beside you. Vienna (Coi) is a 3 to 5-year-old female. She is a stunning conversationalist, in both looks and volume. She’ll

follow you around like your tiny furry shadow, politely (ish) reminding you that your hands are for petting “her.” If you’re looking for a gorgeous, opinionated sidekick, let’s chat.

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter is located at 325 S.W. 2nd Ave., Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information.

Smokie Vienna (Coi)

PHOTO PROVIDED

Housing: Buyers are looking at more homes as market turns advantage

or the home will sit.

From page 18

Median sales prices for Cape Coral single family homes — excluding short sales or foreclosures — was at an all time high in April 2022 at $470,000, and then $455,000 in May 2022 and $455,000 in June 2022, Quinn said.

“Median sales prices have not reached these levels since then, and they have slowly deteriorated in what I have called a stealth price decline and a slow-motion trainwreck for home sellers,” he said.

Other Realtors agree “we are in a market correction,” which is great news for people who want to buy.

Raso Realty Realtor Gloria Tate said it is a wake-up

call for sellers who need to reevaluate what they are selling their properties for.

“Real estate is a cycle, and we have seen this over and over again. It’s nothing new,” she said. “It’s definitely not the end of the world. We are strong. Sales are good. My June was great; my July is great.”

Tate said there are a lot of homes on the market, and as always, it is all about the price — if it is right, it will sell.

In addition, insurance is another key factor.

“Insurance continues to be a challenge for us. Our legislature, both locally, state and federally, need to work harder and smarter to get us better insurance,” she said.

Anne Vaughn, with Century 21, is also staying busy.

“It’s slower than usual because there is such a high in-

CHANGE IS GRAND!

Volante of Fort Myers is now Salterra at Fort Myers — proudly managed by Leisure Care.

ventory,” she said, adding people are looking at 10 houses instead of five before making a decision.

Those who she is helping are relocating to Cape Coral because of a job, or schools.

“They are moving here to live. They have a goal, relocate to Florida. When you have a job to move to, you have to have a house to live in,” Vaughn said. “We have a lot of people moving into Cape Coral from Miami because it’s too expensive. I have several buyers coming from out of state. Everybody wants to move to Florida, regardless of what the media says.”

She too said that price is always key in selling a home — “that is not news, that is old news.”

We’re excited to bring the Leisure Care difference to Fort Myers where award-winning hospitality-driven care and life-enhancing amenities bring living well and well-being to life.

At Salterra at Fort Myers, residents enjoy person-centered assisted living and memory care tailored to their needs, preferences, and pace.

Backed by nearly 50 years of experience, Leisure Care communities are designed to inspire confidence, comfort, and joy – for residents and their families alike. Leisure Care has repeatedly earned accolades from U.S. News & World Report, is a Great Place to Work® Certified company, and was named among FORTUNE Best Workplaces in Aging Services. Experience the changes for yourself –

CCRC-organized ‘Trump Car Parade’ set for Saturday

Public invited to take part in event intended to show

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

The Cape Coral Republican Club is inviting the public to take part in a car parade to support the president.

On July 12, the CCRC will host a “Trump Car Parade” event to show they stand behind President Donald Trump and the efforts of his administration.

CCRC members are asking those who wish to participate to gather at the old Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard St. at 9:30 a.m., with the caravan starting at 10 a.m.

“We put it together in response (to the)

“We put it together in response (to the) anti-Trump protest on Daniels Parkway. We were out on Flag Day and Trump’s birthday as well. We want to support the president. We’re trying to make a difference.”

— Chris Cammarota, CCRC president and event organizer

anti-Trump protest on Daniels Parkway,” said Chris Cammarota, president of the CCRC and event organizer. “We were out on Flag Day and Trump’s birthday as

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, there will be a City of Cape Coral City Council Budget Workshop held at 1:00 p.m. in Council Chambers located at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 1015 Cultural Park Boulevard, Cape Coral, FL 33990.

An agenda for the meeting will be posted on the city’s website at the following link: http://www.capecoral.gov/department/clerk/agendas_and_videos.php

Feel free to contact the City Clerk at 1-239-574-0417 should you require additional information

Kimberly Bruns, CMC City Clerk

well. We want to support the president. We’re trying to make a difference.”

Participants are encouraged to decorate their cars and fly flags.

The route will travel up Cape Coral Parkway, down Agualinda Boulevard to Veterans Parkway, and back up Santa Barbara Boulevard.

The car parade is expected to last an hour.

“We’re just trying to do the right thing and make our voice heard that we support the country and are happy with how the way things are going,” Cammarota said.

For more information, visit www.republicanclubofcapecoral.com.

The CCRC meets the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Cape Cabaret.

SUDOKU SHEFFER CROSSWORD

CYRPTOQUIP

Cryptoquip Solution:

Florida Arts & Music event at the Mound House Saturday

By STAFF REPORT news@breezenewspapers.com

The Mound House will host a special free program this Saturday for families with arts and crafts, games, and other activities.

The program “Florida’s Art and Music” will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is being sponsored by the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation. The foundation is sponsoring the free admission day at the museum.

There will be a mobile art lab, shaved ices, and guided tours of the Mound House Museum. Guided tours will cost $5 per person.

The Mound House is listed under the National Register of Historic Places and has been owned and operated by the Town of Fort Myers Beach since 1999.

The home and museum is the oldest standing structure on Fort Myers Beach dating back to 1906, sitting on top of a 2,000-year-old shell mound that was constructed by the native Calusa tribe who lived throughout the region for centuries.

The six-exhibit museum details nearly 2,000 years of cultural and environmental history of the site.

“Home to many different cultures including Calusa, Seminole, Latino, and Anglo-Americans; our site reflects the many layers of Southwest Florida’s history!” the Mound House website, moundhouse.org, states.

“Our nearly 3-acre property is an archaeological site with nearly 2,000 years of continuous occupation. The shell mound that makes up the site was purposely and skillfully constructed by the native Calusa by which they would build their home.”

The historic site has an active volunteer organization called Friends of the Mound House.

“The Friends started as an ad hoc organization of volunteers that served as Mound House docents, the Friends incorporated in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Since the founding, the Friends have raised funds to support Mound House programs and created an endowment to generate a continuous source of income to support the Mound House.”

The Friends provide support including camp scholarships, exhibit enhancements, a lecture series and member appreciation events. They also accept donations.

The Mound House is at 451 Connecticut St. on Fort Myers Beach and features a museum, tours, gift shop and serves as a public park for picnics and fishing.

Religious

Thanksgiving Novena to St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special partonage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys, and Glorias. Publication must be promised. This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. Publication promised.

Help Wanted

Person knowledgeable on internet. Can work from home and / or personal assistant. Seniors welcome. 239-283-8920 or 239-478-4119

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel Island is seeking applicants for 3 full-time positions: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, GUEST SERVICES MANAGER, FACILITY OPERATIONS MANAGER. Learn more at ShellMuseum.org/careers-internships

Wanted To Buy

CASH PAID

I BUY Houses & Real Estate Any Condition Probate - Foreclosure Vacant - As Is I Also Buy Notes - Mortgages Settlements - Annunities Ken 239-295-3820 KenBuysEverything.com

Household Goods

CREDENZA 3 door 68” with 6 shelves inside unit and large pull-out drawer light brown sheen. Excellent condition. $200.00. TWIN BED X-LONG New mattress with powered sleep number frame and remote to raise and lower head and foot of bed. hardly used. 6 mths. old, Excellent condition. SOFA Beautiful comfortable indoor outdoor black metal frame curved sofa with 3 large seat cushions and 3 large back cushions. Sunbrella fabric-beige. Very clean. In excellent condition. $500.00

BEDROOM SET Large Dresser 60” long x 40” high with 12 drawers and large oval mirror. 2- Door Armoir suitable for TV inset; 4 drawers. Excellent condition. $550.00. Bedroom set can be sold separately. Call 239-224-8436

Medical & Health

Pride Power Wheelchair, “Jazzy Carbon”. Includes saddlebag, extra cushion & carbon cup holder. 39lbs (w/battery only 42lbs) Folding. Paid $2600, asking $700. 239-224-8436

Auctions & Bazaars

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Garage Sales

AwesomeDemolition Sale,ThomasvilleKitchen Cabinets,Farmhouse sink, Q uartz coun-ter-tops, KitchenaidAppliances, glassshowerdoors,ceilingfans&lightfixtures, impactwindows&doors, 2hot waterheaters,3bathroom vanitieswithsinks,soakertub,raisedtoilet,utility cabinets&sink,pantries, interiordoors,liftmaster garagedooropener& door,blinds&shades,2 splita/cunits,shrubs, trees,plants&fencing. Allitemslikenew. Youwillbesorryif youmissthisone! Besuretoseethephotos!

Pictures: facebook.com/RedBarnCapeCoral

Obituaries Death Notices

Cape Coral

Donald Edward Crist Jr.

Donald Edward Crist Jr., age 75, of Cape Coral, Florida, passed away Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025, at Cape Coral Hospital.

Born July 12, 1949, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Bertha (Miller) and Donald E. Crist Sr. He was a veteran of the US Air Force. On April 16, 1977, he married Barbara Mutchler, and they made many memories over their 48 years of marriage. Don had a 20-year career at Abbott Labs, then worked until retirement as a plumbing estimator. In his free time, Don enjoyed playing golf and target shooting. His most favorite moments were made while spending time with his family creating the best memories he always cherished.

Don is survived by his wife, Barbara Crist; three children, Scott (Jennifer) Crist, Greg (Salina) Crist and Melody (Jimmy) Johnson; eight grandchildren, Katelynn, Brooklynn, Madelynn, Haley, Matthew, Travis, Abigail and Grant; a great-grandson, Cameron; and a brother, Mark Crist.

The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ashland, 308 Claremont Avenue. The funeral service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. He will be laid to rest in Imhoff Cemetery.

Words of condolence may be expressed at www.wappner.com

Cape

Coral Cape Coral

Mark T. Hamilton. 73, of Punta Gorda, Florida passed away July 2, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.

Armando Leopold Acosta Huerta, 83, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away July 6, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

John Frederick Walker, 66, a resident of Cape Coral, Fl, passed away Friday, July 4, 2025. Final arrangements are entrusted to Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral.

Kathy Auer, 57 of Cape Coral, passed away on July 1, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Olive Lovelay Greaves, 81 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 23, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Stephen Anthony Romer, 73 of Cape Coral, passed away on July 7, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Ada M. Lee, 89, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away June 27, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Cape Coral.

Janet Claire Head, 86 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 27, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Teresa Vicchio-Pedraja, 84 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 28, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Patricia Ann Vollberg, 80, of Cape Coral passed away on July 7 2025. Arrangements by Lee County Cremation Services of Cape Coral.

Gayle Annmarie Russo, 70, of Cape Coral, FL, passed away Monday June 30, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final arrangements.

Kathleen Marie Fekete, 66 of Cape Coral, passed away on July 6, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Mary Ann Davis, 82 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 23, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Tracey Ann Scimeca, 51 of Cape Coral, passed away on June 24, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Sarah Danielle Cunningham, 44, passed away June 30, 2025 in Cape Coral, Florida. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

Theodore Figura, 59 of Cape Coral, passed away on July 1, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.

Marie Elana Branch, 69, of Cape Coral, Florida, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Cape Coral. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.

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